The Double-Chapter 454 - 146: Shocking Encounter_4

...

After the winter solstice, it would be less than a month before the end of the year.

Even if the Jiang Family had been through too many upheavals in the past six months, even resulting in the loss of life, and the careers of Jiang Yuanbai and his brothers weren’t going smoothly, and the outside world still saw the Jiang Family as a joke to talk about over tea, the New Year still had to be celebrated.

Everyone in the Mansion was unknowingly starting to get busy. Night Wind Hall’s Zhenzhu and Feicui had come several times, asking when Jiang Li planned to go to the jewelry store to pick out jewelry. Jiang Li didn’t have a particular fondness for jewelry, and after going once, she didn’t want to go again. Madam Jiang the Elder then had tailors come to Fangfei Garden to tailor new clothes for Jiang Li, knowing that it was a way to make amends to her.

Speaking of tailoring clothes, there was also an occasion when Madam Jiang the Elder took her to attend a banquet, a homestyle feast of an official’s family. Jiang Li wore a dress made of the Wave Pattern fabric newly released by the Ye Family, which immediately caught the attention of the various noble ladies and wives, all of whom pulled at her, asking where to buy the fabric. Jiang Li took the opportunity to mention the name of the Ye Family of Xiangyang, and soon after, Ye Mingyu received a letter from Xiangyang stating that the Ye Family’s Wave Pattern fabric was now in high demand, and many clothing stores in Yanjing City were placing orders for it. The Ye Family’s textile factory had been rushing to work almost day and night.

When she heard Ye Mingyu talk about this, Jiang Li felt a sense of relief. Fortunately, the Ye Family’s Ancient Fragrance Satin hadn’t declined and they had the rising success of the Wave Pattern fabric; it seemed the Ye Family’s tough times were over. Old Madam Ye’s health was also gradually improving, and everything was developing for the better. Even Xue Huaiyuan had become more spirited day by day under Situ Jiuyue’s care, and was now able to recognize and call out people’s names.

This end-of-year season didn’t seem too difficult to endure, as it looked like many issues could be easily resolved without any real predicament.

Fifteen days after the winter solstice, Hai Tang returned.

Zhao Ke stood in front of Jiang Li’s window and said, "She’s now in the Duke Residence. She would draw too much attention at the Jiang Family’s place, and there are people watching the Ye Family’s door. Miss Jiang the Second wants to meet Hai Tang, and the sir has said that you can go to the Duke Residence."

Jiang Li, "...I’m afraid that will attract attention."

"No matter, the sir has said that if Miss Jiang the Second wishes to go, she can go before the late night, and no one will notice," Zhao Ke said simply, giving Jiang Li quite a headache.

"How do I leave the house in the dead of night?" Jiang Li asked, hoping the person in front of her would consider some practical issues. She was a young lady from the Grand Secretary’s Family, how could she leave in the middle of the night, especially to go to the Duke Residence. If only she had Qinggong skills like Ye Mingyu, and could go incognito with no fixed tracks, that would be ideal.

"Don’t worry, Miss Second, I will arrange everything," Zhao Ke confidently assured.

Jiang Li studied Zhao Ke for a good while, to the point where Zhao Ke began to feel somewhat ashamed and lowered his head, before she was convinced that the guard in front of her was serious about offering such a solution. She still wanted to resist a bit and asked, "Isn’t there another way? We can actually meet in a tavern on the street."

"The person Miss Jiang the Second is seeking doesn’t trust others very much, and even up to now, is still on guard against us," Zhao Ke replied. "If we hadn’t subdued her, she would have run away."

"You subdued her?" Jiang Li was shocked. "Did you not tell her that the person looking for her wasn’t going to hurt her, that they were there to help her?"

"We told her," Zhao Ke shrugged, "but she didn’t believe us."

Jiang Li’s heart sank little by little. Hai Tang was so wary of others, unwilling to trust anyone, which indicated that she must have really faced some troubles, or at least encountered something, to be so on guard. At this point, Jiang Li could not afford to care about anything else; the pressing matter was to meet Hai Tang, reassure her, and clarify what had happened after her supposed death and after she and Du Juan had fled.

Jiang Li said, "Alright, I will go to the Duke Residence tonight. I wonder if the Duke would find it convenient?"

Zhao Ke looked up in surprise. Was she agreeing so quickly? He had thought that Miss Jiang the Second would struggle for a while before consenting, considering a young lady visiting a strange man’s mansion, and in the dead of night at that. Anyone would hesitate. But then again, he realized it wasn’t quite the same, after all, the sir was Duke Su, the admired figure of all of Northern Yan. Even if something truly happened, which was highly unlikely, Miss Jiang the Second would not be at a loss, and might even come out ahead.

Thinking this way, the surprise in Zhao Ke’s eyes quickly dissipated, replaced by a look of understanding as he said, "Good, I will report back to the sir immediately."

Jiang Li nodded.

After Zhao Ke left, Jiang Li watched him walk away, without closing the window, but instead gazing out at the vast expanse of white, uncertain whether her heart was filled with joy or sorrow. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm